YouTube creators Hank and John Green have expanded their digital presence from a single personal channel into a network of educational and industry platforms. Since launching their primary channel in 2007, the brothers have established several high-traffic properties including "Crash Course" and "SciShow," which focus on history and science education respectively.
The brothers first began publishing videos on their "vlogbrothers" channel in January 2007. Initially framed as a year-long project to communicate solely through video, the platform gained a consistent audience, leading to the development of broader media ventures. In addition to their educational content, the Greens founded VidCon, an annual convention focused on the online video industry and its creators.
As of March 2015, the Greens' various YouTube channels have reached a combined total of nearly 10 million subscribers. The scale of their audience led to significant public recognition earlier this year; in January 2015, Hank Green was selected as one of three digital creators to conduct a direct interview with President Barack Obama following the State of the Union address.
The scale of this operation is reflected in the diversity of its output. "Crash Course" offers structured lessons in subjects like world history and biology, while "SciShow" delivers daily science news. With 10 million subscribers, even if only 10% of that audience consists of active students, approximately 1 million people are receiving supplemental educational content through these channels. For the average household with an internet connection, this represents a shift in how educational resources are consumed, moving away from one-time textbook purchases toward ongoing, ad-supported digital subscriptions.
The growth of these platforms also establishes a precedent for how the federal government interacts with digital media. The selection of Hank Green to interview the President signifies a shift in White House communications strategy, acknowledging digital creators as legitimate media representatives alongside traditional journalists. This suggests that future policy discussions and public outreach may increasingly bypass traditional television networks in favor of online platforms. Looking ahead, the brothers continue to manage their existing properties and host the annual VidCon event, which serves as a central meeting point for the burgeoning creator economy.